The question we hear most often from people planning to start a business in Quebec is where to begin. They have an idea, perhaps some savings, and many browser tabs open: government sites, bank sites and consultants selling $2,000 packages. The volume of information can be overwhelming.
Most are surprised by how much support is available free of charge. This is not the "free webinar followed by a sales pitch" model, but genuinely free assistance funded by public money, provided by professionals whose role is to meet with entrepreneurs.
Most people never use these services, mainly because no one has informed them that they exist.
Where should a new entrepreneur in Quebec begin?
With the free public services. The Quebec government gathers the essentials on its Démarrer une entreprise page (in French; the English section of Québec.ca is less complete): legal structures, choosing and registering a name, required declarations and links to programs. We recommend reading it once in full before taking any other step. It takes an evening and prevents many common early mistakes, such as purchasing a domain name and printing business cards before confirming the name is available at the Registraire des entreprises.
The next step is to contact the right people.
Your MRC's business advisors
Since the end of 2020, the Accès entreprise Québec program has funded business advisors in MRCs across the province. Even a rural MRC now has a professional whose role is to assist local entrepreneurs, direct them to programs and often manage local funds. Call your MRC and ask for the economic development service. This single call is likely the most useful step on this entire list.
SADC and CAE offices
Outside the major cities, the SADC network (Sociétés d'aide au développement des collectivités) and the CAEs are also available, funded federally through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. They provide advisory services and loans to small businesses in rural areas, and they understand the local economy in a way a city bank branch cannot.
Services Québec
Individuals receiving employment insurance or without employment who wish to start a business should ask Services Québec about the Soutien au travail autonome measure. It can provide support during the start-up period, but enrolment must take place before the business is launched, not after. Many people miss this opportunity because they learn about it too late.
What other resources are available to entrepreneurs in Quebec?
Beyond the public offices, there is a second level of resources. Some are excellent; the quality of others depends on the individual advisor.
- Futurpreneur Canada for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39. It offers financing combined with a mentor, and the mentoring component is the often underestimated half.
- Réseau Mentorat (known as Réseau M until a few years ago). Volunteer mentors who have run businesses themselves, matched with new entrepreneurs.
- Evol, which focuses on women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, with financing and support.
- BDC, the federal business development bank. Its site offers many free guides and templates, and it provides loans once the business is further along.
- Carrefours jeunesse-emploi, many of which have a staff member dedicated to youth entrepreneurship.
- Your local chamber of commerce. Less focused on programs, more on connecting with established business owners in your community.
- The Défi OSEntreprendre competition. Entering requires putting the project in writing, which is a significant part of its value.
We do not rank these resources, as their relevance depends on your region, age and sector. The MRC advisor generally knows which ones are active locally, which is another reason to begin there.
What should be brought to a first meeting with an advisor?
A one-page summary of the project. This is the point we emphasize most.
Advisors meet many people who have an idea in mind but nothing on paper. They will still provide assistance, but the meeting is far more productive when the entrepreneur arrives with a single page stating:
- What you plan to sell, and to whom.
- Why you believe people will buy it (anything you have tested, even on a small scale).
- The approximate start-up cost, and the current source of that money.
- The areas where you need help.
One page, not a forty-page business plan that does not yet exist. A Business Model Canvas also works well for those who prefer that format. We teach the ASP Lancement d'une entreprise at the CFP Calixa-Lavallée, a 12-week online program that is free for students, and we devote considerable time to this step, because writing the project down is how entrepreneurs identify the weaknesses in their own idea before someone else does.
The advisor will usually request a complete business plan later, particularly when funding is involved. The one-page summary is what leads to that conversation with a solid foundation.
Why ask about mentoring as well as funding?
Because mentoring often provides more value in the early years. Nearly everyone arrives at these offices asking about grants, which is understandable, since money is the most visible need.
However, start-up grants are fewer and smaller than most people expect, and much of what is described as "funding" consists of loans. These loans often offer better terms than a bank, but they must be repaid. Entrepreneurs who seek only money may leave feeling the meeting was unproductive.
We recommend asking different questions. Is a mentoring match available? Are training sessions for new entrepreneurs offered this spring? Is there a local network of business owners? Who else in the region is working on a project similar to mine?
A mentor with experience running a business in your region provides more value during the first two years than most grants. A mentor can identify unreliable suppliers, the slowest months of the year and appropriate pricing, information that is rarely documented anywhere.
What steps should be taken in the first month?
For an entrepreneur starting from scratch in Quebec this spring, we recommend the following sequence. Read the Québec.ca page. Write the one-page summary. Call the MRC and book a meeting. Ask the advisor which mentoring program and financing options are suitable. Verify the name at the Registraire before spending anything on branding. Only then should attention turn to the logo and the website.
The website is important, as web development is our core expertise. However, an effective site is much easier to build once its audience and purpose are clearly defined. A simple landing page is often sufficient at the start, while testing whether there is interest in the offer.
The support exists; the first step is to make that call.